What the Growth of Solo Travel Means for Luxury

With older people much more confident about travel than they were a couple of decades ago, it’s perhaps understandable that they are happier to travel on their own.

— Patrick Whyte

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The travel industry spends much of its time targeting couples and families without thinking much about those who might want to travel on their own.

Of course, strictly speaking, anyone can travel on their own, and a lot of people do. But it is much more difficult to arrange a solo trip as part of an organized tour or cruise with the sometimes-prohibitive single supplements companies charge.

Despite these challenges — as well as the emotional side of going away on your own — luxury tour operators are seeing a rising number of solo travelers. Perhaps this is because people are now much more adventurous in their choice of holidays than they were 20 years ago and travel companies have moved to cover this trend.

As Tom Marchant, the founder of luxury travel agent Black Tomato, said: “Solo travel has moved away from pre-conceived notions of the lonely and awkward. Clients are looking to step out for a moment and experience things at their own pace to gain a deep sense of place and focus on well-being or creative projects.”

Solo travel has become an industry in itself and luxury travel companies are starting to wise up to the possibilities it offers.

5 Looks at Luxury

Inside the Rise of Solo Luxury Adventure Tourism:Forget millennials. It’s their parents who have the money and time to sign up for luxury experiences around the globe. With the aid of digital communications, going alone no longer feels like tragedy but an asset.

Lack of Used Private Jets Spurs Demand for Newer Aircraft: Private jets are catching the eye of wealthy travelers and corporations following a period of soft pricing and reduced depreciation of used planes. For those who can afford it, a $9.7 million jet can be worth avoiding the traditional public aviation experience. They’re buying now as prices have begun to creep higher.